Everything You Need to Know About Smart Water Metering 

Water scarcity remains a significant challenge in the 21st century. Data reveals that one in ten people worldwide lack access to clean water supplies, presenting a gloomy reality. While some regions battle with water shortages, others contend with massive water leakages. These issues burden society, governments, and future generations alike. While there is no single solution to address all aspects of water conservation, the advent of smart water metering solutions marks a pivotal turning point. 

What is smart water metering?  

Smart water metering solutions use advanced technology to monitor, measure, collect, and manage water usage data in real-time for different types of properties (multifamily, commercial, suburban, industrial, and other objects). 

What Components Does a Smart Water Metering System Have? 

A smart water solution consists of a smart ultrasonic water meter, an advanced data management platform, networks (for example, LoraWAN, NB-IoT, LTE, Mioty) network monitoring, and installation services. 

• Ultrasonic water meters provide highly accurate measurements of consumed water, they automatically collect data and remotely send it to the network server. 
• A wireless network transfers communication from the smart meter to the utility’s server, where it stores and analyzes data. Low power wide area networks (LPWAN), such as LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, and others, can transmit packets of data over long distances while utilizing low power consumption. 
• Network monitoring helps ensure stable smart metering data transmission. It involves monitoring data telegrams, network redundancy, and stability. 
• The data management platform receives data from the communication network and smart meters, efficiently storing, analyzing, monitoring, and processing the data for various applications. 

How Does Smart Water Metering Ensure Water Conservation? 

In the face of increasing water scarcity and population growth, water conservation is critical for sustainable water management. Advanced water metering technology has a crucial role in promoting water conservation by providing real-time data on water consumption to utility companies and residents. 

These days, consumers can use water conservation mobile apps to monitor their water consumption and quickly identify any abnormal water usage.  

Smart metering systems can detect leakages, enabling prompt repairs and preventing water waste. Through continuous monitoring and data analysis, smart metering encourages responsible water usage practices and helps communities optimize their water resources for long-term sustainability. 

How Does Smart Water Meter Detect Leakages? 

Smart water metering systems continuously monitor water flow and pressure, analyzing data in real-time to identify irregularities that may indicate a leak. When a leak occurs, ultrasonic meters can detect sudden drops in water pressure or abnormal usage patterns, triggering alert notifications to the data management platform and residents’ mobile app. 

Quick leak identification enables swift intervention to repair the issue, minimizing water loss, preventing property damage, and reducing costs for residents and utilities. 

Is Implementing a Smart Water Metering System Challenging? 

Implementing a smart metering system can seem challenging at first sight, but the benefits far outweigh the obstacles. One of the primary challenges is the investment required for the installation of smart metering infrastructure, including the purchase of ultrasonic meters, gateways for the communication network, and data management software. Additionally, there may be hesitations about existing water metering infrastructure, the installation process, technical support, transitioning from one billing method to another, and resident education. All of these hesitations can be easily taken care of with the right water metering partner.

However, despite these challenges, the long-term advantages of smart water metering, such as financial stability, increased property value, sustainable water usage, transparent billing, residents’ satisfaction, improved business operations, advanced analytics for better decision-making, and so much more, justify the efforts and investments involved. 

Smart Water Metering’s Impact on Residents’ Billing 

Water metering brings transparency to the billing process as the technology provides accurate data on each household’s water consumption. 

Utilities that use traditional metering usually bill property owners for the total consumption, and it’s up to the property owner to determine how to allocate these costs to the residents. Traditional metering billing methods may include flat-rate billing or ratio utility billing (RUB). Whereas smart metering ensures precise monitoring of consumption in real-time. Also, residents can track their water usage via a mobile app to identify potential savings and adjust water usage behavior according to the real data. Data accuracy eliminates the risk of overbilling or underbilling and even provides insights into potential savings. 

It’s worth mentioning that quick detection of leaks or other abnormal activities by ultrasonic meters allows for prompt problem resolution, preventing unexpected spikes in bills and reducing financial burdens on property owners and residents. 

Overall, water metering not only improves billing accuracy but also promotes greater efficiency, transparency, and cost-effectiveness in the management of water resources for residents. 

How Much Does a Smart Water Metering Solution Cost? 

The cost of implementing a smart metering solution can vary depending on several factors. For example, how many water meters are needed for your infrastructure, what network communication is chosen for the project, and what equipment is needed for network deployment and data management subscription fees. Additionally, there may be costs associated with installation, training, and ongoing maintenance and support. 

While the upfront costs of smart water metering solutions may appear daunting at first glance, it’s important to emphasize the total cost of ownership (TCO), which far surpasses that of older technologies due to lower maintenance costs and longer lifespans. 

What’s the Difference Between Smart Water Metering and Traditional Water Metering? 

Traditional water metering typically relies on mechanical meters to measure water usage, requiring manual readings by utility employees for billing purposes. However, these meters offer limited insights into consumption patterns and do not provide any information on damages or leaks, nor do they offer real-time data. 

In contrast, smart water metering utilizes advanced technology, such as ultrasonic meters, IoT (Internet of Things) sensors, and wireless communication systems, to provide continuous monitoring of water usage. Smart meters can detect leaks, track consumption in real-time, and transmit data remotely to utilities and consumers. This real-time data enables more accurate and transparent billing, proactive leak detection, and better management of water resources. 

Is it Sustainable? 

Smart metering is undeniably sustainable, offering a range of benefits that contribute to the long-term preservation of water resources. By providing real-time monitoring of water usage, smart meters empower consumers to make informed decisions about their water consumption, leading to reduced water waste and increased efficiency. This proactive approach to water management not only conserves water but also helps to alleviate pressure on water supplies, particularly in regions facing water scarcity. Additionally, smart metering systems enable utilities to detect leaks promptly, minimizing water loss and preventing potential damage to infrastructure. Furthermore, the data collected from smart meters can inform strategic planning and resource allocation, facilitating more effective water distribution and conservation efforts. 

Conclusion 

Smart water metering technology is one of the solutions for water conservation worldwide. With IoT technology, property owners are empowered to make a change in water usage patterns, educate residents, and, most importantly, prevent water leaks and other infrastructure damages that lead to excessive costs and wasted resources. 

Smart metering offers numerous benefits for water management, environmental preservation, and economic sustainability. With the right partner offering an all-in-one solution from the ultrasonic water meter to the data management platform, you will enjoy peace of mind by managing your property. 

Continue your research on smart metering solutions by reading our recent article about smart water meters or reach out to us to discuss your business concerns.